After attending Port Moody’s Remembrance Day ceremonies at the War Memorial by the Arts Centre I walked along closed-off St John street to Moody Centre Skytrain station. My friend and fellow potter Linda had left Coquitlam Skytrain station just before noon and unbelievably she was in the carriage I entered two stops later!

Forty-five minutes later we walked in to the Convention Centre, checked our coats and entered the huge, bustling Circle Craft Christmas Market. We spotted Cathi Jefferson’s booth right away, just before she was scheduled to give a wheel-throwing demonstration. So for a while we watched as she showed how she throws a yunomi and then a squared bowl, all the while explaining her process and encouraging watching children to play with a lump of her white Bmix clay.

Right nearby we found Gordon Hutchens’ booth and I remembered that I had kicked myself for not having purchased a sample of his unique, earthenware, reduction-fired red ware when we visited his Denman Island studio a couple of years ago. There were only a few mugs, tumblers and little pieces left of that type so I selected a comfortable mug. It is a beautiful example of this unusual glaze method. He explained that it is made with a white clay of his own making, fired to vitrification at cone 01 (higher than my 04), with an iridescent red glaze, also his own creation. As he says ‘This is one area where pottery is closely related to Alchemy, both aesthetically and historically’.

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We had lunch in the Market’s Bistro and then separated to wander the aisles. Yes, I did make some purchases that weren’t pottery, but did enjoy reconnecting with several friends and meeting new ones.

Lynn (no surname on her website  http://redpotpottery.com/about-myself) makes colourful ware using dark clay and the Korean technique of carving into a white covering slip, and then enhances her designs with coloured stains and clear glaze. She’s a prize-winning member of Fraser Valley Potters’ Guild.

Vincent Massey admitted to feeling tired at the end of his fourth long day, with one more to go. He was happy to show me his remarkable chartreuse green glazed pieces, and tells me that his wife Cheryl’s kelp baskets have been selling very well. What a huge amount of work it must be to prepare for, transport and then sit with the display of work for the five days of this popular annual event.

Other booths I photographed were those of Kinichi Shigeno (he seemed to be hiding behind his display) and Laura Van der Linde, but there were 25 potters in the Market, of 315 Canadian artisans altogether.

Circle Craft had an area set aside for information and to feature larger special pieces by members. I liked these two pieces by Jack Olive and Debra Sloan.

I’m so glad I made the effort to check out this year’s event. Taking the Skytrain makes it so easy, avoids downtown parking, and is a relaxing way to get home when one is tired of walking! It helps when one’s husband meets you on a dark, rainy evening and takes you to the local pub, The Burrard, for supper!